Floor construction.



B. F. CRANE;

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JAILQ. 1911. v

1,()77,394 Patented NOV.4, 1913.

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E. F. CRANE.

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII n.9, 1911. 1,077,394, Patented NOVA, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, 0.1:,

E. F. CRANE.

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' APPLICATION-FILED JAN. 9, 1911. 1,077,394. Patented Nov. 4; 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATEN T QFFIQFQ EDWARD F. CRANE, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. CRANE, citizen of the United States, and resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in floor construction and more particularly to that type of floor construction comprising reinforced concrete and hollow tiles or blocks, the latter being distributed in spaced relationship within the floor. The blocks or tiles which are usually employed in such construction are of terra cotta. In the construction of a floor, these tiles or blocks are arranged on a flooring or false work in a series of parallel rows. Metallic reinforcing rods are then placed in position between the rows, after which concrete is poured in to fill all of the space between the tiles and to form a net work of intersecting beams or girders.

My invention relates particularly to the construction of these hollow blocks or tiles and contemplates the use of metal in their construction. By making the tiles with peripheral metal walls and with the top or the bottom or both the top and bottom of concrete or other similar or analogous mineral substance, I secure many important advantages over the terra cotta tiles now com monly employed. By means of my improved construction, I Very much reduce the weight and bulkiness of the tiles during shipment and also reduce the amount of breakage. Furthermore, the peripheral wall being of sheet metal is not fragile and not easily broken away to admit the concrete of the beams to the interior of the tile as often happens when terra cotta tiles are employed. My tiles or blocks may be easily made at the place at which they are to be used, the

metal shells being shipped in blank form and set up with the concrete or other end walls at the job. The concrete end of the tile also provides a finished ceiling which may be cast in colors if desired, and the metal of the shell acts as a reinforce and does not tend to tear loose from the concrete inasmuch as its coefiicient of expansion is similar to that of the concrete.

Hy improved tile has many important structural features, among which are the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1911.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913. Serial No. 601,558.

interlocking of the sheet metal shell with the ends, the reinforcement of the ends, the interlocking engagement of this reinforcement with the concrete beams, and many other features which will be referred to more particularly hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of one form of sheet metal blank which I may employ; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same blank after being bent to form the flanges and the shoulder for interlocking engagement with the end wall; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the two sections going to make up a complete tile; Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the form shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4:; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a complete tile on a somewhat smaller scale than Figs. 3, 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 5, but showing a different way of retaining the concrete end wall in position; Fig. 8 is a Vertical section of a complete tile, the peripheral wall being of one section rather than two and the end walls being formed prior to being assembled with the peripheral wall; Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a portion of a floor showing a plurality of the tiles, similar to that shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is an inverted plan View of the portion of the flooring shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is an inverted plan somewhat similar to Fig. 10, but showing the tiles spaced by concrete slabs; Fig. 12 is a lan View of a further modified form of tile 9 illustrating one particularly adapted for use in hallways or narrow passages; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a portion of a tile, the end wall having a reticulated metal support and reinforcement for a plaster or thin concrete layer; and Fig. 14: is a similar view showing the reticulated metal in the form of a perforated sheet plate.

In carrying out my invention I may make up my improved hollow tile or block in various different ways. In the preferred construction I form the peripheral wall of the tile of metal, preferably in sheet form, and I the top and bot-tom of concrete, although in place of the concrete I may employ any formaflange other similar or analogous substance. For instance, a marble or glass slab or a layer of any material which will harden in place, such for instance, as cement or clay.

choose to designate all such material either in natural or artificial state as a wall of nondnetallic substance. In the specific form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive I form the peripheralwall from a sheet metal blank 10, cut as illustrated in Fig. 1. In forming the peripheral wall of the tile from this blank one edge portion, indicated above the dotted line a of Fig. 1 is bent over to 11 at right angles to the body of the blank. The portion of the blank between the dotted lines I) and c is bent up on the dotted line cl so as to form a bead or groove 12. The blank is then folded along the dotted lines 6, f and g to form a rectan gular body or shell, the blank being out along the portions of these lines crossing the flange portion 11 and the bead 12. The ends of the blank are provided with suitable ter: minal flanges 10 which serve to facilitate the securing together of the ends of the blank by means of rivets or other suitable fastening means. For retaining the sheet metal walls of the tile in substantially rectangular form preventing distortion of the tile during the forming of the concrete end wall, I preferably employ a small cleat or brace 13 riveted across one corner as is shown in Fig. 4:.

The portion of the blank below the bead 12 is provided with one or more openings 35 in each section as is indicated clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 and through these openings are extended metallic reinforcing rods or' wires. Preferably these rods or wires are arranged in two sets, lt and 15, at rlght angles to each other as is illustrated in Fig.

41. Each set is made up of two runs formed metal, the ends being connected together so as to leave pro ecting from a single piece of loops, 14' and 15, upon the outer surfaces of the side walls of the tile.

After the metal has been cut and bent as above described and the reinforcement 1 1 and 15 is placed in position, the sheet metal shell is placed upon any flat surface and concrete 16 is filled into the shell to a height approximately even with the upper edge of the bead or groove as shown. The concrete 'w1ll enter the groove or bead so as to form an interlocking connection between the metal and the concrete and the reinforcement 14l-15 will be buried in the concrete so as to form a further interlocking connection. The reinforcement also serves its usual function of reinforcing the concrete.

The interlocking connection need not neces sarily be by means of the bead or groove shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 essential that either the sheet metal or the concrete present a shoulder for engagement and 6, as it is only I one with the other. In Fig. 7, I have illustrated a section of a hollow block or tile similar to that shown in Fig. 5, except that the shoulder is formed by an inwardly extending bead 12 instead of by an outwardly extending one. Any other suitable interlocking connection may be employed, but one advantage for the use of a bead or groove is that it serves to stiffen the wall and prevent it from bulging outwardly under the weight of the fresh concrete. 7

As soon as the concrete is set or at any time prior to the using of the tiles in floor construction, I assemble the sections in pairs 7 so as to make a complete block as illustrated in Fig. 6. One of the sections after being formed is inverted and superposed on another similar section so that the fianges 11 of the two sections are in engagement with each other. These two flanges are then secured together in any suitable manner but preferably in as inexpensive and simple a manner as possible. For instance, I may punch holes in the flanges of one section so that the metal will form a bur and enter an opening in the opposite flange as indicated in Fig. 6. The blocks or tiles are then complete and ready for use in the formation of a reinforced concrete floor.

In constructing the floor the blocks are arranged in rows or in any other suitable spaced relationship as is customary in the art, and reinforcing rods 19 are placed between the tiles in the spaces which are later filled with concrete and which form the con crete beams. In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a section through a floor showing my improved tiles in place between the concrete beams. Any suitable means may be used for spacing the blocks, but I may employ short sheet metal strips 17 bent substantially V- shape and of such size that the ends may be readily inserted in the ends of the grooves 12 of the blocks. Each block may be provided with two of these spacers at two of the corners at right-angles to each other and the spacers may be held in place by a punclr ing of the metal as indicated at 18 in Fig. 2).

These spacers will insure the proper positioning of the tiles or blocks and furthermore will serve to form supports for the reinforcing rods 19 in the concrete beams.

The beads 12 and flanges 11 on the sections of the tile serve to form an interlocking connection between the beam and the tiles, and

the loops of the reinforcements 14 and 15 form a further tie or binding which prevents any loosening of the tiles in respect-to the beams.

The concrete 16- forming the bottom of each block or tile may be colored in any suitable manner or otherwise ornamented so as to produce any desired design for the ceiling. This is indicated in Fig. 10 in which a plurality of the tiles of difierent colors are illustrated in their proper spaced relationship and separated by the concrete 20 forming the intersecting beams.

As previously stated, I do not wish to be limited to the details of the construction above described. The walls forming the top and bottom of the block may be either cut from natural stone or may be cast or molded in being assembled with the metal shell. In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a form in which the peripheral wall is made up of but a single section and in which there is an inwardly directed bead 12 presenting a shoulder for the support of a previously constructed slab or plate 16. The peripheral wall presents a similar head 12", adjacent its lower edge which will support a second slab or plate 16 forming the bottom wall of the block. This last-mentioned slab or plate may be placed in position before the ends of the sheet metal blank are secured together. If desired, the lower edge of the sheet metal shell may be bent back, as at 21, whereby it will lie at a higher level than the bottom of the wall 16". Thus when the block is placed in position upon the false ,work the concrete going to make up the beams may enter beneath this edge 21 as shown and no portions of the metalwill be exposed on the ceiling.

Instead of having the tiles spaced by metallic spacing members 17, as indicated in Fig. 9, any other suitable spacing means may be employed. For instance, previously constructed slabs 22 of concrete or any other similar material may be laid upon the false flooring during construction to serve as spacers between the tiles, and these spacers may be colored so as to produce any suitable ornamental effect, for instance, as shown in Fig. 11. These spacers may also serve to support the reinforcement of the beams and keep it at the proper distance from the under surface of the beams.

For constructing floors for narrow hallways, in which it is not necessary to have beams extending lengthwise of the hallway, I may employ tiles of such length that they will extend the entire distance across the hallway and will be separated by narrow transversely extending concrete beams. In Fig. 12 I have illustrated a series of blocks 25, each extending transversely of the space in which the fioor is to be formed and supported at opposite ends on shoulders, ledges or flanges 26 formed on the vertical walls or the adjacent beams of the building. Each of these blocks 25 may be formed with a sheet metal peripheral wall made up of two sections, and an intermediate transverse brace 27 may serve to prevent the opposite sides from spreading apart. The same rivets which hold this brace in position may hold the two sections together. The top and bottom walls of each blockmay be made of a previously formed slab or plate of concrete or other material or may be molded or otherwise located in place. In the present case, they are held in proper position in respect to the sheet metal wall by suitable shoulders indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12. 7

Instead of making the top and bottom walls of the tiles of comparatively thick concrete reinforced by a few rods or bars, I may make the top and bottom wall of a comparatively thin layer of concrete, cement, plaster or the like, supported by a reticulated plate constituting the reinforcement. In Fig. 13, I have illustrated a form in which the peripheral sheet metal wall is provided with flanges 11 to which are secured transverse walls of wire gauze, expanded metal or other similar support 28, for a layer of plaster, concrete or the like. In Fig. 14, I have illustrated this reticulated plate in the form of a perforated sheet metal plate 29 which may be formed integral with the sheet metal walls, or may be riveted or otherwise secured in position.

What I claim is 1. A hollow tile for floor construction having its peripheral wall made of a folded sheet of metal fastened together at its ends and stiffened by a bead pressed in each side of said wall adjacent one edge, and a thin end wall of non-metallic material supported by said beads.

2. A hollow tile for floor construction having a sheet metal peripheral wall formed of a folded blank, an interlocking element integral with said wall formed by bending said blank, and a thin end wall of non-metallic substance held in place by said interlocking element, said element also serving to stiffen the metallic wall of the tile.

3. A hollow tile for floor construction having a peripheral wall formed of a folded metal blank, a bead integral with said wall formed by bending the same into desired shape, and an end wall comprising a relatively thin slab of concrete supported by said bead.

at. A hollow tile for floor construction formed with a metallic peripheral wall provided with a circumferential bead near each end, and a relatively thin concrete end wall supported by each bead.

5. A hollow tile for floor construction formed with a metallic peripheral wall provided with an interlocking element within each end, and a non-metallic wall supported and held in each end of said tile by said interlocking element, the outer surface of said non-metallic walls being substantially flush with the ends of the metallic walls.

6. A hollow tile for floor construction having metallic peripheral walls formed with a bead, a relatively thin concrete end wall supported within the peripheral Walls,

I crete end wall at right angles to each other and projecting outwardly from the tile.

8. A hollow tile for floor construction comprising a metallic peripheral wall provided with an interlockingelement near one end and an outwardly turned flange at its opposite end, a metallic reinforcing member extending across the tile adjacent said interlocking member, and a relatively thin nonmetallic wa'll closing one end of said tile through which wall the reinforcing member passes.

9. A hollow tile for floor construction including a metallic shell having an exterior flange at one end and an encircling interlocking member near its opposite end, and a relatively thin concrete slab interlocking with said member and closing the respective end of said shell.

10. A hollow tile for floor construction comprising a metallic shell made of a folded blank, formed with an exterior flange at one end and an interior stiffening bead near each end, and a relatively thin non-metallic slab supported by each of said beads and, closing both ends of said shell, said slabs being spaced apart. v

11. A hollow tile for floor construction having a metallic shell, a reinforcing member extending across one end of said shell and projecting outside of the same in the form of a loop, and a relatively thin con- .comprising a metallic crete covering for said member which also serves as an end wall for said shell and having a finished exterior surface forming a part of the ceiling of the room below.

12. A hollow tile for floor construction formed of two sections, each section including a metallic shell provided with an outwardly extending flange at one end thereof and a relatively thin concrete slab at the opposite end thereof, and means for securing said flanges together.

13. A hollow tile for floor construction including a metallic shell, a stiffening bead near one end of said shell a non-metallic slab closing one end of said shell supported by said bead, and a corner brace rigidly connected to the end of said shell opposite the slab for holding the shell in correct shape and preventing distortion thereof.

1A. A hollow tile for floor construction including a metallic shell, presenting an outwardly extending flange at one end thereof,

a relatively thin slab of concrete closing the opposite end thereof, and a reinforcing member for said concrete havlng portions extending beyond said shell for interlocking with adjacent concrete to retain said tile in position.

15. A hollow tile for floor constructlon shell made of a folded blank joined together at its ends and formed with an interior stiffening bead near each end. and a relatively thin non-metallic slab supported by each of said beads and closing both ends of said shell, said slabs being spaced apart.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York this 7th day of January,

A. D. 1911. EDl VARD F. CRANE. Witnesses:

ERNEST D. CoNDrr,

CHAS. F. DANE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

